OPPapers.com

Age-Drinking

At the age of 18, an American is an adult.

At the age of 18, an American man or woman can take a full-time job,
they can rent an apartment,

they can join a union, they can do all the stuff on the Internet that you're supposed to be 18 to do.
they can take that union card and get a job brewing beer, making wine, or distilling liquor, they can purchase and carry an 18" Bowie knife,

they can get married, or have consensual sex,
they can get a mortgage (okay, they can apply for a mortgage),
they can have children,
they can own and drive a car,
they can adopt children, they can buy a pornographic movie,
they can have an abortion,
they can act in a pornographic movie,
they can buy contraceptives (or get them free in school) they can buy cigarettes,
they can buy a semi-automatic shotgun or scope-sighted rifle, they can take codeine and morphine with a prescription,
they can sell booze in a bar, they can sign a contract,
they can own a bar in some states (including, apparently, PA) they can purchase and use dynamite in some states,
they can become an armed police officer in at least three states, they can work as a merchant sailor on a trans-oceanic ship,
they can shoot pool in public, they can enter a seminary to become a priest or minister,
they can own a business and employ other adults,
they can sue,
they can get a passport, they can be sued,
they can go see any movie in a theater, they can work as a prostitute in Nevada,
they can become volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members, be responsible for expensive equipment, save people's lives, and risk their own, they can play professionally in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, or MLS for more money than you'll see in three lifetimes, Thanks to Ommegang's Larry Bennett for these two additions! (Um...the sports one and the firefighter one, not the prostitute one.)
they can get a pilot's license, they can join the military and fight, kill, and die for our country (1/5 of all...